GH3 What is the best all round Nikon zoom for the GH3?

W

Worzel Gummidge

Carbonite Member
Hi, looking for something from their DX range that has a manual iris for use with a Speedbooster. Any good suggestions? Preferably some similar to Canon 17-55mm 2.8 (I'm a Canon man)
 
FYI, the Speedboosters have an aperture ring on them that will control the lens' aperture, and clicklessly to boot, so you don't have to get a lens with an aperture ring.
 
Make sure to test your DX zoom with the Speedbooster to ensure it won't vignette (GH2 will be more likely to vignette than the GH3). With GH2, the Nikon 17-55 offers full coverage on the SB; Tokina 16-50 vignettes on the wide end; Sigma 17-70 vignettes on the wide end. Haven't tried the Tamron 17-50.
 
Ah, thanks, good to know. I'm thinking that Sigma is pretty dang sweet, if you were to use it on a tripod. I have the panny 12-35 f/2.8 and like the stabilization, but if you're on sticks and need low light capability, you can do worse than that Sigma. But I'm thinking, that Sigma is APS-C, so on a SB what is the focal length the 18-35 translates to vs full frame? What's the factor here? Without SB, a m4/3 like the GH3 lens 12-35 is equivalent to a FF 24-70, and a SB on that is... what? another 30%? So now take a not FF, but an APS-C and slap a SB on that, and what do you end up with on the GH3 if translated into full frame focal length equivalent?

Also, considering that we're dealing with an APS-C not FF, what does the SB buy us speed-wise on that Sigma? Half a stop?
 
OldCorpse said:
Ah, thanks, good to know. I'm thinking that Sigma is pretty dang sweet, if you were to use it on a tripod. I have the panny 12-35 f/2.8 and like the stabilization, but if you're on sticks and need low light capability, you can do worse than that Sigma. But I'm thinking, that Sigma is APS-C, so on a SB what is the focal length the 18-35 translates to vs full frame? What's the factor here? Without SB, a m4/3 like the GH3 lens 12-35 is equivalent to a FF 24-70, and a SB on that is... what? another 30%? So now take a not FF, but an APS-C and slap a SB on that, and what do you end up with on the GH3 if translated into full frame focal length equivalent?

Also, considering that we're dealing with an APS-C not FF, what does the SB buy us speed-wise on that Sigma? Half a stop?
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The 18-35mm f1.8 with a SB on a GH3 would be a 12-25mm f1.2. You gain the same stop no matter the lens you use (APS-C vs FF).

In FF terms this is a 24-50mm.
 
Wow, John, that's amazing! Thank you. This is looking veeeery tempting! Looking at the 18-35 Sigma, it comes in various mounts, is there any difference which one would be best for compatibility with SB? I realize that SB has many versions, including for Canon-m4/3 and so on. I have Nikon still cams, so I'd rather stay with the Nikon mount. Any reason to prefer the Canon or Sony mounts?

Bonus question for anyone who has experience with the Sigma 18-35 - is it sharp wide open? I would assume that a smaller sensor using a more central region of the lens should be pretty sharp, but I'm unclear on if the SB changes anything... in any case, is the Sigma sharp at 1.8? Sometimes you read about a fast lens, like a 1.4 except it's useless until you go to 2.8, so you may as well go with the 2.8... I'm just trying to suss out what's the case here.
 
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OldCorpse said:
Wow, John, that's amazing! Thank you. This is looking veeeery tempting! Looking at the 18-35 Sigma, it comes in various mounts, is there any difference which one would be best for compatibility with SB? I realize that SB has many versions, including for Canon-m4/3 and so on. I have Nikon still cams, so I'd rather stay with the Nikon mount. Any reason to prefer the Canon or Sony mounts?

Bonus question for anyone who has experience with the Sigma 18-35 - is it sharp wide open? I would assume that a smaller sensor using a more central region of the lens should be pretty sharp, but I'm unclear on if the SB changes anything... in any case, is the Sigma sharp at 1.8? Sometimes you read about a fast lens, like a 1.4 except it's useless until you go to 2.8, so you may as well go with the 2.8... I'm just trying to suss out what's the case here.
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The EF-> m4/3 speed booster is long delayed. Right now the only way to get this combo is with a Nikon mount. Note that the Nikon mount version of the Sigma 18-35 still uses a Canon direction for the focus ring. Also the Nikon SB has its own aperture mechanism.

All accounts of the 18-35 on a GH3 are pretty amazing. Super sharp, nice feel to the focus and zoom rings. Somewhat big for the body though, might need lens support. Note that if you get a standard Nikon to m4/3 adaptor you can use it as a 18-35mm f1.8 lens for more reach.

Here are some sample with the GH3:


 
Grisnjam said:
The EF-> m4/3 speed booster is long delayed. Right now the only way to get this combo is with a Nikon mount. Note that the Nikon mount version of the Sigma 18-35 still uses a Canon direction for the focus ring. Also the Nikon SB has its own aperture mechanism.

All accounts of the 18-35 on a GH3 are pretty amazing. Super sharp, nice feel to the focus and zoom rings. Somewhat big for the body though, might need lens support. Note that if you get a standard Nikon to m4/3 adaptor you can use it as a 18-35mm f1.8 lens for more reach.

Here are some sample with the GH3:


Click to expand...

Thanks a bunch, John. This settles it - my wife is gonna kill me, but I'm getting the SB and Sigma for my GH3. I can't believe we live in such amazing times... it's like magic!
 
This REALLY is a tempting combo. I dont have a Panasonic camera right now, but Im considering it. The G6 looks like an incredible value, but the limited dynamic range is keeping me from getting it. It seems like the GH3 is a little better, but that D5300 is looking pretty tempting.

This combo is just so awesome for the Pany cameras though since you can use lower ISO for the same exposure. Cool stuff.
 
mrlittleteich@gmail.com said:
Just wondering how my Nikkor AF-S 18-70 F3.5-4.5 vignettes but yet the Sigma 18-35 doesn't?
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A lens designed to cover a given sensor size (APS-C here) may actually cast a larger image circle. The Sigma's circle is big enough but your Nikkor is not. The speed booster is made to reduce a FF lens and not an APS-C to u4/3.
 
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